***
“How did it go?” Jeremy asked as he took a seat beside Philip.
“I told them my piece.” Philip shrugged. “They saw my point, and agreed.” He said but something in his tone caught his friend’s attention.
“But…” Jeremy frowned.
“This goes beyond Stanwood, Jer.” Philip sighed. “If you endorse it for Stanwood, then it must be done for the others. Think about it.”
“Shit!” Jeremy swore when it suddenly hit him like a ton of bricks. “I didn’t think of that.” He gave a short laugh. “Shit, shit, shit…” He groaned. They both knew how much werewolves thrived on exhibitionism.
When werewolves ran in their wolf forms, they mated freely and didn’t care who watched. They were animals after all. But although they acted with more sanity when in human form, they still enjoyed watching others going at it in passion. Ceremonies such as mating ceremonies for alphas were, therefore, rare moments where most werewolves got to enjoy that eroticism where raw beastly fire met sensuous humanity. In short, mating ceremonies were rare exotic indulgences for the privileged. Privileged in this instance referred to the grown-ups in the pack whose alpha had found his mate, alphas, and those who would be lucky enough to get an invite.
“How about you make the fucking part optional for the mated couples?” Philip murmured. “They must be allowed to opt out if they are not comfortable.”
“That will create problems, Lip.” Jeremy breathed. “You know our people. Very soon an alpha who opts out would be seen as weak and spineless. It could also create conflicts between couples if one wants to do it and the other does not. Some alphas will even bully their mates into going through with it. That would be a terrible way to begin a relationship. If the practice is not good enough, it just has to go. Simple. And we both know it’s not good enough.” He sighed. “That backward, silly, mortifying exhibition shit has to go.”
“Yeah, we don’t give a fuck how erotic or delectable it is,” Philip added with a mock scowl. The two friends burst into laughter.
“Oh god, Jake T and Stan are going to kill me.” Jeremy chuckled as he got to his feet.
“Better you than me.” Philip drawled as the door opened to reveal Stan and Paige. “Hey, guys.” The alpha grinned.
“Jeremy told us he’d been summoned so we thought you were in deep shit,” Paige said as she flopped into the seat which Jeremy had just vacated and kissed her brother on the cheek. “We came to add our voice.”
“You sure that’s why Stan came?” Philip drawled.
“Hey, pardon me for seeing you for the party pooper that you are,” Stan said dryly as he took a seat. “I mean people actually pay to watch others fuck.” He gave a mock growl. “I hate what you’re doing because to me, you want to eliminate the most explosive visual aphrodisiac ever.” He mumbled. “But I agree, that’s some sick shit.” He roared and then dissolved into laughter with the others.
All four kept laughing until a door opened to reveal a smirking Gloria. She closed the door behind her and then slowly looked from one face to the other. Everyone stifled their laughter like kids who had been caught doing something bad.
“I’m glad you lot can laugh about this.” She murmured. “They’ll see you now.” She said to Jeremy and then started for the entrance.
“Where are you going, Mama G?” Philip asked in surprise. The other members were still inside after all.
“Going to pick up my grandson.” She responded as she elegantly walked past. “Oh and don’t expect to find your mate waiting for you when you get to your suite, honey.” She threw over her shoulder at Philip. “The three of us will be in the Stanton Woods if you need to see us.”
“Roger that, ma’am.” Philip chuckled. Since Troy started school, Gloria didn’t get to see him often so she made it a point to spend time with him on weekends whenever Philip was occupied with something else.
“But couldn’t you have waited till after…” Jeremy looked surprised. He didn’t even know his mother had a date with his kid.
“No, Jeremy.” Gloria chuckled. “I couldn’t wait.” The door shut behind a still chuckling Gloria.
“I swear that woman is up to something.” Jeremy chuckled as he started for the door to the room in which the council waited. At the door, he turned and gave Philip a quick nod before entering.
“So what did they say about you breaking the rule?” Paige asked. “They probably think you’re trying to bulldoze your way out of it.”
“The fucker breaks the rule and instead of owning up to his mistake, he changes the fucking rule.” Stan drawled. “Pun so intended. Damn, it’s great to be an alpha.”
“Oh, I did apologize.” Philip laughed, flipping Stan off. “Then I told them why I thought the practice was outmoded and totally irrelevant. At least for this pack, it’s been accepted.” He grinned.
“Good, because I really wouldn’t wanna watch little Sylver rutting away against someone in his mating ceremony in some years to come,” Stan said with a yawn.
“Ewww….” Paige burst into laughter.
“You’re an idiot, Stanislav.” Philip laughed.
*
Meanwhile, inside the room, Jeremy couldn’t hide his smile as he listened attentively to the high priestess recount what Philip had told them. The alpha of alphas thought Philip had given an absolutely brilliant solution. And he said as much.
“I think Philip gave some really great alternatives,” Jeremy said. “Who wouldn’t want that? You either do the deed inside your room or go on a honeymoon and have a blast. I think it will be a nice rule actually. A full package.”
“I think so too,” Joel said. “Alphas generally don’t like taking breaks so it will be good for them. Something to look forward to.”
“Exactly, Uncle Jo.” Jeremy nodded. “And there’ll be no need for any magic to prevent a breakout of orgies…”
“Oh, the magic will have to feature no matter what,” Deloris spoke up. “I don’t trust you horny werewolves. The alpha and his mate might decide to have a quickie for the road. We can’t risk that.”
“I agree.” Jeremy laughed. “I will discuss this with the alphas in our next meeting. I’m pretty sure I’ll be able to sway them.”
“I know you will.” The high priestess responded. “Thank you for coming, alpha.”
“Thank you for thinking about the others.” Jeremy got to his feet.
“We give all thanks to Luna.” The high priestess said as, like the other council members, she respectfully got to her feet. “Could you please ask Alpha Philip to come in for a moment?”
“Will do,” Jeremy responded and then stepped out of the room. “Lip, they want to see ya.”